My name is Ali, and I love to problem-solve. One of the ways in which I do so is design. I believe that the world can become an even more enjoyable place through thoughtful design, that is, design that employs a mixture of both form and function. Without one, the design will invariably be flawed.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and three associates in design (User Experience Design, Graphic Arts Technology, and Graphic Design) from Austin Community College. Although my career experience has been focused on user experience design, I have made the shift in recent years to take on more user research projects. Currently, I work as a UX Designer for Willis Towers Watson and as a Contract Designer for CVS Health.

Research, especially the qualitative kind, has been of particular interest to me. I am naturally inquisitive and genuinely enjoy the process of interviewing users, conducting card sorts, running usability tests, and telling a story from the data collected.

What I Believe in

I like to view myself as a value-driven person, as opposed to goal-driven. I’ve found this to make my life a little more balanced and a lot more satisfying. Besides, I believe that when you align your actions to your values, the goals are the by-product. Here are some of my more sacred values:

• Curiosity - I have a firm belief that education, both formal and informal, is the only true way to lift one’s self up. I don’t think I’ll ever stop asking questions, taking classes, attending seminars, or researching random things on the internet. Nothing instills confidence in you like knowledge.

• Honesty - Being truthful is not just important for building healthy relationships with others – it can help you accept your weaknesses and grow. Being honest has held me to a higher level of personal accountability that allows me to take ownership of my mistakes and learn from them.

• Empathy - This one is probably every designer’s “favorite” value. It’s a little different for me: I am not naturally empathetic. However, my work as a designer has allowed me to become empathetic, by shifting my intentions to learning the why of what users want through research. I call this learned empathy.

• Giving Back - I believe giving back is essential for fostering empathy, compassion, and a sense of shared responsibility towards creating a better world for everyone. I find a great sense of personal fulfillment through volunteering, fostering, and pro bono work.

View my resume

You can find my resume of past work here (opens a new window).

Let’s collaborate on something fun!

Austin, Texas will forever be home but I am currently traveling the country and always looking for new opportunities to collaborate! Please feel free to email me at ali@alikhandesign.com if you have questions about my projects or just want to chat.

A little About Me

When I'm not geeking out over research results and SUS scores, you'll find me hiking (because stairs are too mainstream), binge-watching films (popcorn mandatory), and attempting to cook gourmet meals without burning down the kitchen (emphasis on attempting).

Note: Due to the proprietary nature of some of my work I have password-protected some portfolio pieces. I will gladly walk through my process and those projects with you on a video call.